Cotton Kings' Fioroni continues to raise money for Levelland senior

During the Lubbock Cotton Kings' victory over Odessa on Saturday at Lubbock Municipal Coliseum, the team wore special sweaters in honor of Fioroni's 24 Foundation. The foundation benefits Levelland senior Jeremy Green, who has been paralyzed since suffering a football-related injury in August.

Fioroni

All 18 jerseys were auctioned after the game, as were a hand-stitched team quilt and a diecast model truck with the 24 Foundation logo. Green's Levelland teammates also carried donation buckets throughout the stands, and the fund-raising efforts were a huge success  to say the least.

The one-night charity event produced $20,407 for Green, and for the season, Cotton Kings general manager Fred Meseke said the 24 Foundation has raised more than $26,000.

"I knew it would be a big night, but I had no idea we'd get over $20,000," said the 28-year-old Fioroni, a bruising forward in his fifth season with the Cotton Kings. "To raise $20,000 in one night, that's pretty impressive. In all my (eight) years playing pro (hockey), I've never seen anything like that."

According to Central Hockey League president Brad Treliving, the 13-year-old CHL hasn't seen anything like it, either. Several CHL players and teams have orchestrated other fund-raising events throughout the years  including Memphis' Don Parsons, Odessa's Scott Hillman and former Cotton King Anthony Donskov  but Treliving couldn't think of any one event that had such a successful turnout.

"This one stands out in my mind right now as the most significant," Treliving said Tuesday. "If it's not the biggest one-night event, it's darn-near close."

Parsons won the CHL's man of the year award last season, and Fioroni was a finalist. He and teammate Dave MacIntyre raised nearly $10,000 for the family of Brett Walrath, a Lubbock man who was fatally injured in a traffic accident two summers ago.

Fioroni has been actively involved with other local charities, including Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Cotton Kings' Stick-With-Reading program. And every Christmas Eve, Fioroni dresses as Santa Claus and delivers toys to local hospitals.

Based upon the success of his 24 Foundation  along with his continued community service over the years  Fioroni could be considered a favorite for this season's man of the year award. Treliving wouldn't call Fioroni a shoe-in, but he acknowledged his worth to the Lubbock community and to the CHL.

"Obviously, we're very-much proud and supportive of all his efforts, and he's a shining example of what our athletes can do within their communities," Treliving said. "Those types of things are examples of what the man of the year award is all about."

In his typically selfless manner, however, Fioroni deflected praise when asked if he was deserving of the award, which has been given in each of the past eight years.

"I don't even think about that," he said. "Even if I win that award, it's the people of Lubbock, Levelland and the South Plains who are the men and women of the year. Those are the people who should be rewarded, not me."

Fioroni and the 24 Foundation aren't even finished. Fioroni plans to host a charity bowling tournament for Green in February, and he said he wants to host a casino night in March, when the Cotton Kings' regular season comes to a close.

Section 218 in the Coliseum has been designated for the 24 Foundation, and for the remainder of the season, the Cotton Kings will donate $2 for every ticket sold in the section.

And now that he's surpassed his initial goal of $25,000  with nearly half the hockey season yet to be played  Fioroni has simply raised the bar.

"We should be close to $40,000 by the time it's all said and done," he said. "That's our new goal."